The area around Oliva De Mérida is rugged and scenically appealing; at the same time, its history spans prehistoric rock art, bronze craftsmanship and the history of the Order of Santiago. This offers different ways to shape your trip: archaeological sites, hiking trails and the Las Candelas festival tradition.
Rock Art and Archaeological Traces
Cueva de la Charneca lies in the Sierra de la Francisca, within the municipality of Oliva De Mérida. Its walls feature rock paintings. At the end of the Neolithic period, between the 4th and 3rd millennia BC, the cave was used as a place for burials and burial rites.
The Charneca Chica rock shelter is another prehistoric trace in the area. It is part of a group of rock shelters with schematic rock paintings in the municipality; the depictions date to the transition from the 4th to the 3rd millennium BC. The two sites offer different insights into this period: at Cueva de la Charneca, the focus is on its use for burials, while at Charneca Chica, it is on the rock art.
Another archaeological site is El Palomar, which is classified as Orientalising. Excavations in 1998 identified a workshop there for the production of bronze objects. The remains include a furnace and a collection basin used to secure the moulds. The finds therefore point to a specific craft activity at the site.
The area’s architectural history is represented too: the Casa de la Encomienda of the Order of Santiago was built at the end of the 14th century by the order’s master, Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa. Its remains are preserved at the El Palacio site. A 2015 resolution recognised the movable cultural property of the Church of Purísima Concepción in Oliva De Mérida as being of historical and artistic interest. This recognition applies to the church’s movable heritage.
Hiking Trails and Landscape
The Ruta de Peñas Blancas is 18 kilometres long, rated moderate, and passes through landscapes of considerable historical and scenic interest. Another option is a 14.9-kilometre circular walk to Cueva de la Charneca, starting and ending in Oliva De Mérida.
The routes differ both in length and in their stated characteristics: the Ruta de Peñas Blancas is rated moderate, while the trip to the cave is described as a circular walk starting and returning in Oliva De Mérida. Trail conditions and waymarking on the Ruta de Peñas Blancas may change; ground conditions on the circular walk may vary. Check these conditions before setting out.
Las Candelas: Festival and Tradition
Las Candelas is the patron saint festival of Oliva De Mérida and takes place on 2 February. On the eve of the festival, there is a verbena, or traditional open-air celebration, with a bonfire. Pantarujas are burned during the festival—figures representing evil spirits. If you want to plan your trip around this festival, 2 February is a fixed date to plan for.
The festival usually includes stalls selling food and drinks. Offerings include grilled chorizos and pestorejo: seasoned and grilled meat from pig snout and ear. These dishes are part of the festival tradition and are not a local selection available year-round.
Fishing at the Embalse San Juan
The Embalse San Juan, also known as Embalse La Garza, offers a different kind of visit. The reservoir is near Oliva De Mérida and is a place to fish; the cacho is the most common fish species there. Alongside archaeology, festival culture and hiking, fishing and the landscape offer distinct interests for your trip.
Discover more destinations: Olivenza, Malpartida de la Serena, La Rabaza, Campanario, Quintana De La Serena, Azuaga, Barcarrota, Montemolín.
For the overview of the wider region: Badajoz.
